Telescoping flue



July 23, 1946 M. RESEK TELESCOPING FLUE Filed July 14, 1945 '2 She etS-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MARC P$5K Av-mews):-

July 23, 1946. M. RESEK 2,404,530

TELESCOPING FLUE Filed July 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

,24 INVENT0R,16 M4ec $555K I Patented July 23, 1946 TELESCOPING FLUE Marc Resek, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Perfection Stove Company, Cleveland, hio,a

' corporation of Ohio Application July 14, 1943, Serial No. 494,743

My present invention is a telescoping flue for use with combustion apparatus, and it was developed in conjunction with the liquid fuel heating apparatus that forms the subject matter of my copending application Serial .No. 479,038. The apparatus of said application is intended primarily as a heater for internal combustion en gines of automotive vehicles, such as motorized military equipment, including trucks, tanks and the like.

Where the heater is installed in the engine compartment of a truck or like vehicle beneath the. hood, it is desirable, for obvious reasons, when the heater is placed in condition for use, to have the flue by which the products of combustion are carried ofi'extended to a considerable height above the plane of the hood, incidentally through an opening in the hood; and, when the heater is not in use, to have the flue contracted beneath the hood and, preferably, said opening closed by a shutter or other suitable means. The nature and purpose of the heater requires its use only when the vehicle is standing, wherefore, when the vehicle is in operation, the flue is contracted and entirely out of the way.

The more general objects of the invention are to provide a telescoping flue that is substantial and relatively simple in construction, and that can be easily and quickly extended and contracted; also, to provide a flue comprising telescoping sections that are connected together, when the flue is extended, by firm, interlocking and leakproof joints and the sections of which, when the flue is in any other than fully extended condition, loosely interflt so that each retractable section may readily slide within the one next larger in diameter and with suflicient clearance to avoid the scraping off of an appreciable amount of soot that has been deposited on the interior of the larger section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping flue having a soot collecting basin or trap at its lower end into which any soot that is scraped ofi during the contraction of the flue will collect and from which it may readily be discharged; and a further object is to provide a closurefor said basin or trap that automatically closes when the flue is extended and which likewise opens each time the flue is contracted thereby to discharge the contents of the basin or trap.

The foregoing objects, with others that will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, are attained in the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings. where- 12 Claims. (Cl. 126280) 2 scoping flue in contracted condition and connected to .a vehicle engine heater, a part of the en glue and adjacent portions of the vehicle structure being shown in dot-and-dash lines;- Fig. 2 is a similar view with the. engine and all but a fragment of the vehicle hood omitted and with the flue in extended condition; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the flue cap and the adjacent portion of the upper flue section to which the cap is attached; Fig.4 is a central vertical section through the flue, substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, showing the flue contracted and with the upper left hand corner in elevation, thisand the following figure being on the same scale and one considerably enlarged over that of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through the flue, in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 4, showing the flue extended, parts of the flue in this and in the preceding view being broken out in order to shorten the, views, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the joint between the top and middle sections on a further enlarged scale, the plane of section being indicated by the line 66 o-fFig. 5. e r a I The flue, as herein illustrated, comprises three tubes or sections, although it may consist of two, or of any greater number that is practical. The bottom or base section is designated I, the middle or intermediate section 2, and the topsection 3. The bottom section has a side opening 5 (Fig. 5) near its lower end over which is disposed a shell 6 whose edge portion is suitably connected, as by welding, to the section I about said opening; The shell has a bottom wall I provided with an open: ing 8 that is surrounded by a depending collar 9 through which the flue has communicative C011. nection with the combustion chamber of the heater it). Details of this heater are disclosed in my application aforesaid.

The bottom portion of the flue, below said opening 5 of section I, constitutes a soot collecting basin or trap, and the same is provided with a bottom closure l5 shown in section in Fig; 4 and in elevation in Fig. 5, the closure desirably being formed from sheet metal with a peripheral flange it that is adapted to seat against the bottom of the section I. A cylindrical portion I'lrises from the inner edge of the flange l6 and merges into a frusto conical part l8 having a closed top. The closure is guided within the tube by the vertical branches [9 of members 20, desirably formed from strap metal and welded or otherwise fastened to the closure, and at' their tops said members are provided with seats 2'! in Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved tele- '88 against which the lower ends of the intermedi vflue is in contracted condition, as'will hereinafter more fully appear. "When theflue is extended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and the weight of the flue sections 2 and 3 is thus removed from the seats 2|, the closure I5 is lifted by a spring 23 and is heldby said spring with its flange I6 against the bottom of the section I. This spring bears at its upper end against the circular top wall of the closure I5 and at its lower end surrounds a positioning boss 24 of a spring seat 25 that consists of an annulus that is desir-r ably slightly less in diameter than the internal diameterof the lower end of the closure I5. The lower convolutions of the spring 23 and the spring seat 25 are shown in section in Fig. 4, while in Fig. 5 the same parts are shown in .ele-

vation.' The seat 25 is carried by the central Fig. 5.

, Fitted within the top of the flue section I, and fastened thereto, as by welding, is a locking ring that is surrounded at its upper end by an inwardly directed flange 31, the underneath surface of which constitutes a seat I. The peripheral wall of said ring is provided with a number, desirably three, of L-shaped slots 32 having relatively widemouths, as indicated in Fig. 5; and the bottom edge 33 of the lateral branch of each slot is inclined upwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal in a direction away from the entrance end of the slot. Also, the wall 34 of said entrance end, opposite the lateral branch, is inclined upwardly and at a substantial angle toward said branch, for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The intermediate flue section 2 has a circumferential'porti'on 35 adjacent its lower end that is jenlargedto'fit within thelocking ring 55, a shoulder being thus provided between the body portion of the tube and said circumferential portion that constitutes a seat 2 for engagement with the previously mentioned seat I Projections 31 on the portion 35 of section 2 are arranged to enter the slots'32' as said section is extended and, if necessary, turned to register the projections with the slots. As the projections enter the slots they engage the walls 34 a'ndare deflected into the lateral branches, this action initiating the turning of section 2 in the proper direction to shift the projections 3'! into said lateral branches and cause the projections to ride up the inclined edges 33 thereby to urge the aforesaid seats I and 2 into firm contact with each other;

The projections 31 desirably consist of the headset rivets, one of which is shown in section in'Fig; 6, the shanks of the rivets being extended through apertures in the portion 35 of section 2 and upset onthe inner side thereof. "A joint substantially like that above described the lower'endof section 3.

the flue section 3' is equipped with projections,

the one shown in Fig; 5 being designated 43,. The

present joint includes seats that are formed by the underneath side of the top flange 44 of the locking ring 40 and the shoulder between the body portion of section 3 and the enlarged portion 42 thereof. In the present case, the flange 44 of the locking ring is flush with the top of the flue section 2, instead of being at a, higher elevation like the flange 3| of the locking ring 30 of the first described joint.

A cap is fastened to the upper end of the top flue section 3, as by having a collar 5| thereof inserted into the upper end of said section and parts of said section (one of which is designated 1 the collar 5I at its inner edge and at its outer edge is surrounded by a horizontal flange 55.

The flange is cut away or sheared off at one side along a straight line, as shown at 56, and adjacent one end of its straight side the flange is deformed to provide a detent 51 and a stop 58,

between which is a shallow socket'59. Lugs 50 are incorporated in the cap and areshown as rising from diametrically opposite portions of the flange 55 to facilitate turning the 'cap for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Arranged to cooperate with the flange 55, when the flue is contracted, is the inturned end of a hook 62 whose base portion 63 is welded or otherwise fastened to the flue section I.

' The flue is desirably anchored in the region of theupper end of its base section I to a part of the vehicle structure as, for example, the engine. In the present case a band 55, that encircles the flue section I, is fastened to a bracket 66 that is secured to and rises from the engine E. The hood H of the vehicle has an opening h in vertical alignment with the 'flue', and said opening is adapted to be closed by a shutter h when the flue is contracted. The parts are illustrated in this condition in Fig. l. The shutter is shown as connected by a pivot member h to the hood, and is provided with a finger piece 72 that projects through the opening it. By means of the finger piece 711 the shutter'may be swung to one side'to uncover the opening h; so that" the flue may be extended through said opening, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

:When it is desired to contract the flue, the section 2 is turned in a direction (counterclockwise according to the present construction) to remove projections 51 from the lateral branches of the L-shaped. slots 32 of the locking ring 35, when the section 2 may belowered into the base section I, the initial downward movement of section 2 withdrawing its enlarged circumferential portion'35 from the locking ring. After this initial movement, the'section 2 descends freely into section I until its lower end engages the seats 2I of the members 20 that are incorporated in thec'losure I5. In the meantime, the projections 43 of'the top section 3 are disengaged from the lateral branches of the slots M of the locking ring 40' so that the top section may be lowered into the intermediate or middle section 2,the topsection, in turn, taking itsplace upon the seats 2| of the aforesaid members 20. The retractable sections are then further depressed so as to lower the closure I5 in opposition to the spring 23, the top flue section being orientated to a position wherein the cut away part 56 of the flange-55 will pass the end of the hook 62. 'With the flange 55 below the plane of said end of the hook, the top section is turned in the direction designated by the legendron theflange 55, clearly shown in Fig. 3, so as to, cause the hook to override the 'detent 51 and assume a position in line with the socket. 59, the parts being arrested in this relation by engagement of the stop 58 with the inturned end of the hook. When downward pres sure .on the cap 50is relaxed, the spring 23 will lift the retractableflue sections and hold the cap against the hook,

In the retraction of the flue sections 2 and 3, soot will likely be loosened from the inner surfaces of the different sections and fall into the soot collecting basin or trap at the bottom of' the flue. Now, as the retractable sections are fully depressed, the closure I5 will be opened and most of the soot will drop by gravity through the opening between the lower ends of the flue sections and the closure l5. Thus, each time the flue is contracted, the basin or trap will be automatically emptied.

When it is desired, for any reason, to remove the closure l5, the lower end of the spring 23 is disengaged from the boss 24 of spring seat 25 and the spring is withdrawn from its position between said seat and the top of the closure I5. Now, upon loosening the set screw 28, the bail may be swung to one side, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and the closure I5 dropped. This arrangement also facilitates assembly of the tele scoping sections of the flue because, with the bail and spring seat swung to one side, the flue sections 2 and 3 may be inserted through the b0ttom of the base section I and, with this done, the cap 50 may beattached in the manner already described to the top end of section 3.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A telescoping flue for combustionapparatus having adjacent its lower end means for com municatively connecting it to such an apparatus and being open at the top and unobstructed between its open top and the aforesaid means, said flue comprising at least two sections, oneof which fits within the other with appreciable clearance when the sections are in any but fully extended condition, the outer section having a circumferential portion adjacent one endof reduced internal diameter, and the inner section having a circumferential portion adjacent it opposite end of increased external diameter and of a size to fit rather closely said portion of the outer section, the outer and inner sections being surrounded in the vicinity of said portions, respectively, by inwardly and outwardly extending seats, and interengaging means on the two sections that cooperate when the flue is extended and said sections are relatively rotated for urging said seats into firm contact with each other, said means consisting of radial projections on one section and parts on the other section having circumferentially extending cam surfaces wherewith said projections engage.

2. A telescoping flue comprising at least two sections, one of which fits within the other with appreciable clearance when the section are in any but fully extended condition, a locking ring fitted within one end of the outer section, the same being provided with a series of L-shaped slots, the inner section having a circumferential portion adjacent its opposite end of increased ex-- ternal diameter and of a size to fit rather closely said locking ring, projections on said portion that are arranged to occupy the aforesaid slots when the flue is in extended condition, the outer and .6 inner sections being surrounded in' the vicinity of said portions, respectively, by inwardly'and outwardly extending seats that engage each other and substantiallyseal the joint between the sections when said projection occupy locking positions within said slots.

3. A telescoping flue comprising atleast two sections, one of which fits within the other 'With appreciable clearance when the sections are in any but fully extended condition, a locking ring secured within one end of the outer section the same being provided with a series of L-shaped slots, the outer end of the locking ring having an inwardly directed flange providing a seat, the inner section having a circumferential portion adjacent its opposite endthat is of increased external diameter and of a size to flt rather closely said locking ring, there being a shoulder between the body portion of said inner section and said circumferential portion providing a seat ar-.

ranged for engagement with the previously mentioned seat, and projection extending from said respect to the-other such as will urge said seats into firm contact with each oher.

4. A telescoping flue comprising relatively movable flue sections and incorporating a soot collecting basin having a discharge opening, closure means for said opening biased toward closed position, and a part connected to and movable in unison with said closure means, said part being engaged and shifted by certain of said sections during contraction of the flue thereby to move the closure means to open position. i

5. A telescoping flue comprising relatively movable flue sections and incorporatinga soot collecting basin having a discharge opening, a closure for said opening, means tending to retain the closure in closed position, and a part connected to and movable in unison with said closure, said part being engaged and shifted by certain of said sections during contraction of the flue thereby to move the closure to open position in opposition to said means.

6. A telescoping flue comprising a base section and one or more retractable sections, the base section having a side aperture spaced above its lower end for communicative connection with a combustion apparatus, the portion of the base section below said aperture enclosing a soot-collecting basin, the section being provided With an opening through which soot may be discharged, a closure for said opening, means tending to retain said closure in closed position, and means engaged by the retractable section or sections when the flue is contracted for shifting said closure to open position in opposition to the first mentioned means.

7. A telescoping flue comprising a base section and one or more retractable sections, the base section having a side aperture spaced above its lower end for communicative connection with a combustion apparatus, the portion of the base section below said aperture enclosing a soot-collecting basin, the section being provided with an opening through which the soot may be discharged, a closure for said opening, means tending to retain said closure in closed position, further means engaged by the retractable section or sections when the. flue is contracted for shifting said closure to: open position in opposition to the first mentioned means, and a releasable instrumentality for holding the retractable 58813101101 sections in retracted position. i

' 8. A telescoping flue comprising a base sect on and a retractable portion, the base section being openat its lower end and having an aperture in its' side spaced above said lower end andthroughwhich the flue is adapted to have communicative connection with a combustion apparatus, a,

closure for .the lower end of the base section, a springv tending to retain the same in closed position, the closure including a part arranged to be engaged by the lower part of the retractable portion whereby to shift the closure to open position against the tension of said. spring-when the flueis contracted, means carried by the top of the base-section'that is arranged for holding engagement with the top of a retractable portion fer holding the latter in retracted position.

9. A flue comprising a base section open at its lower end, and a plurality of nesting retractable ends to diametrically opposite-parts of the base section near the bottom thereof so that the central portion of said bail may occupy a position below the bottom of the base section, a spring compressed between the, central portion of said bail and the closure, and parts on the closure arranged to be engaged by the lower ends of. the retractable sections, when'the flue is in retracted condition, for depressing the closure in opposition to said spring and thus opening the soot-collecting basin.

10. A flue comprising a base section that is open at its lower end and a plurality of nesting retractable section that telescope into the base section, the base section having an aperture in its side that is so spaced above its lower end that the portion of said base section below the plane relation to the base section, a substantially U- shaped bail pivoted at its ends to diametrically opposite parts of the base section near the bottom thereof so that the central portion of said bail may occupy aposition below the bottom of the base section, means for releasably holding the bail in said position, a spring seat with spring positioning m'eanscarried by thecentral portion of said bail, a spring having its lower end engaged with said positioning means and resting upon aid seat and compressed between the same and the closure. and parts on the closure arranged to be engaged by the lower ends of the retractable sections when the flue is in retracted condition for depressing the closure in opposition to said spring and thus opening the soot-collecting basin.

11. A telescoping flue comprising a base section that is open at the bottom, and a plurality of nesting retractable sections that are adapted to be'contracted into the base section, the base section having an opening in'it side spaced above its lower end through which the flueis adapted to be communicatively connected with a combustion apparatus, the flue enclosing a soot-collecting basin below the plane of said opening, .a closure for the bottom of the basesection, a. spring tending to retain the same in closed position, the closure having a part engaged by the lower ends of the retractable sections when the flue is in contracted condition for opening said closure in opposition to said pring, a cap fastened to the top of the inner retractable section provided with an outwardly extending flange that overhangs the other sections, a hook rising from one side of the base section and positioned for engagement with the top of said flange thereby to retain the retractable sections in retracted position, the flange being cut away atone side to permit the flange to pass said hook, and diametrically opposed lugs on the cap tofacilitate turning the same so as to shift said cut-away portion of the cap out of register with said hook.

12. A telescoping flue comprising a base section that is open at the bottom, and a plurality of nesting retractable sections that are, adapted to be contracted into the base section, the base section having an opening in its side spaced above its'lower end through which the flue isadapted to be .communicatively connected with a combustion apparatus, the flue enclosing a soot-collecting basin below the plane of said opening, a closure for the bottom of the basesection, a spring tending to retain the same in closed position, the closure having a part engagedby the lower ends ofthe retractable section when the flue is in contracted condition'for opening said closure in opposition to said spring, a cap-fastened to the top of the inner retractable section provided with an outwardly extending flange that overhangs, the other sections, a hook rising from oneside of the base section and positioned, for engagement with the top of said flange thereby to retain the re tractable sections in retracted position, the flange being cut away at one side to permit the flange to pass said hook, a socket formed in said flange for the reception of said hook, a detent on one side of the socket, and a stop on the other side thereofl MARC RESEK. 

